Shocking Allegations Of Abuse At Dublin Nursing Home

Irish health authorities have taken over control of a private nursing home in south Dublin after allegations of serious abuse of elderly patients living there.

The claims detail abuse of five residents at Rostrevor Nursing Home over a period dating back to mid-2008.

The whistle was blown by three staff members during an inspection by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) late last month.

The authority informed Gardai on May 27th and got a court order last week effectively shutting down the nursing home.

The claims center on one male employee who it's alleged:

• Banged the head of an elderly male patient against a door jamb, then called staff members to instruct them to say he had fallen and hit his head on a hoist if the patient's son asked about the bruising and blood on his face.
• Was seen by another staff member kicking the same elderly patient a number of times while he was on the ground, did not stop immediately when asked to by the witness
• Routinely took an elderly woman resident to the bathroom on his own, from where she could be heard screaming
• Was seen slapping another elderly male patient on the face when putting him to bed
• Grabbed an elderly female patient roughly by the arm causing bruising, leading to a request through her daughter that the care assistant not interact with her anymore
• Seen abusing another male resident

HIQA also had concerns about an "alarming history of falls, inquiries and incidents" at the home.

The body's chief executive told the courts that the three staff who provided information to the authority appeared to be "clearly frightened and concerned that any report or mentioning of the incidents would possibly lead to them losing their jobs".

"They are dependent on the home for their livelihoods," said Dr Tracy Cooper of HIQA, "as they understand that their working visas entitling them to remain in Ireland are tied to the home."

Dr Cooper said she had serious and immediate concerns regarding the life, health and welfare of the 23 residents - all of whom were cognitively impaired to some extent.

The HSE has now taken charge of the facility, which has 23 patients and is seeking alternative places for them.

The home is run by a company called Kiltelm, whose directors are Avilla Lipsett, a former model and her sister Sarah, a solicitor.

It was previously managed by their mother Therese Lipsett, who was struck off the nursing register in December last year, along with two other nurses, after previous complaints of abuse at the home.

Therese Lipsett is still listed as the home's owner, and HIQA believe she was still involved in the running of the facility until March this year.

The Lipsetts tried to overturn the court order which gave the HSE control of Rostrevor, but a Circuit Court judge said he was satisfied that the authorities were acting in the best interests of patients.

Sarah Lipsett said the allegations were "unfounded and untrue".

The Lipsetts are a glamorous family from leafy Rathgar in south Dublin who have never been far from newspaper gossip columns and society pages.

A third daughter, Roz, is a well-known model with the Elite agency in New York.